Sir -- Having spent two years campaigning for the abolition of the former Taoisigh Secretarial allowance I am absolutely delighted the Taoiseach has abolished this allowance from January 1, 2012.

What really is annoying and disgraceful is that all of these former Taoisigh -- Haughey, FitzGerald, Bruton, Reynolds, Ahern, and Cowen -- were in receipt of huge pensions and other incomes and still claimed this allowance when our country was in dire financial circumstances.

Noel Peers,

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